Protection Device for the Head

ABSTRACT

A protection device for a helmet includes a base, and a protection member coupled to the base. The base and protection member are configured to be coupled to an outer surface of the helmet.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.61/637,945 filed on Apr. 25, 2012, the entirety of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Individuals participating in sports or other physical activitiespotentially involving contact often expose themselves to health risks.Protecting the biological matter within a human head against varioustypes of collisions, impacts or trauma allows an individual toparticipate in various activities with less risk of injury thanparticipating without such protection. Head-gear technology today usesmaterials having not only durability and strength (for protection to thehead) but also levity (for ease of movement of the head). Even withthese types of advances in head-gear technology, injuries such asconcussions or other damage resulting from trauma to the head remaincommonplace.

SUMMARY

In one non-limiting aspect, a protection device for a helmet includes abase, and a protection member coupled to the base. The base andprotection member are configured to be coupled to an outer surface ofthe helmet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows an example system comprising a detachable protection deviceand an individual piece of headgear.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of one example of a detachableprotection device coupled to an individual piece of headgear.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the example protection device and headgearof FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of another example of a detachableprotection device coupled to an individual piece of headgear.

FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the example protection device and headgearof FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a protection device coupled to an individualpiece of headgear.

FIG. 7 shows an example of use of a detachable protection device.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another example of a protection device coupled toheadgear.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show another example of a protection device coupled toheadgear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates generally to a device configured toenhance the safety or protection provided by headgear in the context ofactivities involving collisions, such as sports, athletic training orcompetition, law enforcement, industry, the military, or any activity orset of circumstances which entails a potential for injury to one's head.The present disclosure more specifically relates to a detachableprotection device to add protection to or increase the safety of helmetsused in contact sports or athletic competition.

Although the following embodiments are directed toward the game offootball, the device and uses of the present disclosure are applicableto any situation where it is desirable to have, obtain or provideprotection of, for or to one's head from one or a plurality of varioustypes or magnitudes of forceful contact, collision or impact.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an example system 100 is shown. In general, thesystem 100 includes a detachable protection device 110 and a helmet 150.

In this example, the helmet 150 is used by football players. Helmet 150includes an outer surface 154 and openings 152. In this example, theopenings 152 are generally positioned to coincide with the ears of thewearer to allow for greater ease in hearing. However other examples mayor may not have an opening 152. In this example, helmet 150 is made of ahard, durable material that provides protection for the wearer. Examplesof the materials that can be used to make helmet 150 include varioustypes of leather, resin, synthetic fiber, or plastic.

The protection device 110 generally comprises a boundary 112 defining aperimeter that encloses a plurality of protection strips 116, under orover and to which a body 114 is coupled; that may enclose one or moreopenings 118; and that encloses the body 114.

In general, body 114 may be coupled to one or more than one protectionstrip 116. Each protection strip 116 may generally have at least oneinterconnection with one or more than one other discrete protectionstrip 116. Other examples may have protection strips lackinginterconnection or may utilize a shape other than a strip forprotection. In other embodiments, a protection device may lack a bodysuch as body 114 depicted in device 110 such that protection strips orother protective shapes couple directly to a helmet's surface ratherthan to a body which in turn directly couples to a helmet's surface.

A protection device in some embodiments may have elasticity, such thatthe device may be deformed to define a perimeter greater than that ofthe device at its resting state to aid in coupling by: (i) stretchingthe device sufficiently to place it around the outer surface of theheadgear, placing the device around the headgear, and (ii) releasing thedevice from its stretched state such that it conforms to the outersurface of the headgear.

The example protection device 110 shows discrete protection strips 116interconnected orthogonally with respect to each other. With respect toan orthogonal x-y-z coordinate axis, other angular or positionalconfigurations of protection strips 116 within the boundary 112 are alsopossible. Although example system 100 shows the boundary 112 defining aperimeter enclosing the openings 118, alternative embodiments may or maynot comprise openings 118. Openings 118 align with openings 152 ofhelmet 150 when device 110 is coupled with helmet 150 within system 100in the embodiment depicted by FIG. 1.

In example embodiments, the strips 116 are made of a material that willattenuate kinetic energy or will absorb impact, such as foam, rubber orplastic. Other materials can be used. The strips 116 can be variouscolors, such as black, clear, or colored. For example, the strips can beclear so that the strips do not obscure any emblems on the helmet. Inother examples, the strips can be colored to match the color of thehelmet or other insignias for a particular team.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, an example system 200 is shown. Ingeneral, the system 200 includes a detachable protection device 210coupled to a helmet 150. The protection device 210 is similar to that ofprotection device 110 as described above with respect to FIG. 1.

However, protection device 210 comprises a plurality of protectionstrips 216 having interconnections involving various angles andconfigurations with other protection strips 216, a body 214 coupledunderneath protection strips 216, and openings 218 coinciding withhelmet openings 152. The protection device 210 in the example shown inFIG. 2 uses elasticity to couple to helmet 150 as described above withrespect to FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a rear view of system 200 describedabove with respect to FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, an example system 400 is shown. Ingeneral, the system 400 includes a detachable protection device 410coupled to a helmet 150. The protection device 410 is similar to theprotection device 110 as described above with respect to FIG. 1.

However, FIGS. 4 and 5 show protection device 410 comprising a boundary412 defining a perimeter that encloses base segment 418 positioned atthe front of helmet 150 and base segment 422 positioned at the back ofhelmet 150, a plurality of protection strips 416 coupled to segments 418and 422, protection strips 417 interconnected with protection strips416, and a body 414 coupled to and underneath protection strips 416 and417 and to segments 418 and 422.

Segments 418 and 422 in the example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 comprisediscrete locations 420 where the protection device 410 couples to helmet150. The coupling of helmet 150 to device 410 may entail snap-ondevices, buttons, Velcro®, screws, or some other means of adhesion, atdiscrete locations 420. Other examples of a protection device may coupleto a headgear without the use of discrete locations for coupling asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

For example, as described above, in some embodiments the protectiondevice is adhered to the helmet by simply deforming the protectiondevice, placing the protection device on the helmet, and allowing theprotection device to return to a non-deformed state, thereby adhering tothe helmet. In other examples, the protection device can be adhesivelyapplied to the helmet. For example, one or more strips can be glued tothe helmet at desired locations. Other configurations are possible.

For example, referring now to FIG. 6, a side view of an example system600 is shown. In general, the system 600 includes a detachableprotection device 610 coupled to a helmet 650. FIG. 6 shows protectiondevice 610 comprising a protection strip 616. In this example,protection strip 616 is coupled directly to helmet 650. FIG. 6 alsoshows protection strip 616 extending outward from the surface of helmet650 to the extent that protection strip 616 has dimensions 622 and 624.In some examples, the dimensions 622, 624 can be 3/16 inch to ¼ inch.Other heights can also be used.

In some examples, height dimension 622 may or may not equal heightdimension 624. For example, the strip 616 can be contoured so thatheight dimension 622 is smaller than the dimension 624. Otherconfigurations are possible.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a perspective view of an example of use of theprotection devices disclosed herein is shown. This example shows a useof a system 700 in relation to two heads colliding into one another. Ingeneral, systems 700 each include a detachable protection device 710coupled to a helmet 750. Each protection device 710 is similar to one ormore of devices 110, 210, 410, 610 as described above.

FIG. 7 shows each protection device 710 comprising a boundary 712defining a perimeter that encloses base segment 718 positioned at thefront of helmet 750, a plurality of protection strips 716 coupled tosegment 718, and a body 714 coupled to and underneath protection strips716 and to segment 718. As illustrated, upon collision of the helmets750, the protection devices 710, rather than surfaces 154, contact oneanother first to absorb at least a portion of the impact. In thismanner, the impact between the helmets 750 is lessened.

FIGS. 8-11 show alternative embodiments of protection devices withadditional coverage of the helmet. In these examples, the protectiondevices extend to the sides of the helmet to provide additionalcoverage. Other configurations are possible.

For example, the embodiments described herein are detachable protectiondevices. However, in other embodiments, the protection device can beincorporated directly into the helmet. For example, in the footballcontext, the protection strips could be molded into, adhered to, orotherwise directly provided on the outer surface of the helmet. In thismanner, the protection device becomes an integral part of the helmet.Other configurations are possible.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way ofillustration only and should not be construed as limiting. Variousmodifications and changes may be made to the example embodiments andapplications illustrated or described herein or below without departingfrom the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective device comprising: a front base anda back base; and at least one protection member with a front portion anda back portion, wherein the protection member extends from the frontbase to the back base and further wherein the front portion is operablyconnected to the front base and the back portion is operably connectedto the back base.
 2. The protective device of claim 1, wherein the atleast one protection member is configured to be connected to an outersurface of a helmet using an attachment mechanism.
 3. The protectivedevice of claim 2, wherein the attachment mechanism is selected from agroup consisting essentially of: buttons, Velcro®, screws, glue, orbolts.
 4. The protective device of claim 2, wherein the protectivedevice is directly adhered to the outer surface of the helmet.
 5. Theprotective device of claim 1, further comprising a body member, whereinthe body member further comprises a protective layer operably connectedto a bottom side of the at least one protection member and is furtheroperably connected to the front base and the back base.
 6. Theprotective device of claim 1, wherein the at least one protection memberincludes first, second, and a third protection members, wherein thefirst, second, and third protection members are each operablyinterconnected.
 7. The protective device of claim 6, wherein the first,second, and third protection members are each interconnected at varyingangles.
 8. The protective device of claim 1, wherein the protectionmember is made of a clear color.
 9. A method for attaching a protectiondevice to a helmet, the method comprising: attaching a first end of theprotection device to a front portion of a helmet, wherein the protectiondevice further comprises at least one protective member with anelongated portion; extending the elongated portion of protective memberacross an outer surface of the helmet to a back portion of the helmet;and attaching a second end of the protection device to the back portionof the helmet.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein attaching furthercomprises gluing the protection device to the outer surface of thehelmet.
 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising attaching a bodyof the protection device to the outer surface of the helmet, wherein thebody is operably connected to a bottom side of the protection device.12. The method of claim 9, further comprising removing the protectiondevice from the helmet.
 13. A system for providing enhanced protectionto headgear, the system comprising: a helmet with an outer surface; anda protection device operably connected to the outer surface of thehelmet, wherein the protection device comprises at least one protectivemember, wherein the at least one protective member is formed with asubstantially impact-absorbing material.
 14. The system of claim 13,wherein the at least one protective member further comprises a firstprotective member and a second protective member, wherein the firstprotective member is connected to the second protective member at anangle.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one protectivemember has a height in the range of about 3/16 of an inch to ¼ of aninch.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the protection device coversan entirety of the outer surface of the helmet.
 17. The system of claim13, wherein the protection device further covers a middle portion of theouter surface of the helmet.
 18. The system of claim 13, wherein theprotection device defines at a first opening and a second openingwherein the first opening and the second opening align with a first holeand a second hole of the helmet.
 19. The system of claim 13, wherein thehelmet is comprised of a hard, durable material made of leather, resin,synthetic fiber, plastic, or any combination thereof.
 20. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the substantially impact-absorbing material comprisesfoam, rubber, or plastic.